I LOVE SPA VISITS.

There is absolutely no hesitation on my part when the opportunity for spa time presents itself.

I have always appreciated the components of the spa experience that make it special. However, I can honestly say that I appreciate them more as I have matured.

Let’s be honest, the body needs much more TLC, as its parts experience more wear and tear over the years.
Yes! It’s my well-deserved physical and mental tune-up, which is much needed to ensure continued optimum performance. Vroom, vroom!

If you have either never been to a spa or are simply curious about my captivation with spas, let me give you my seven spot-on reasons why I love them:

1. All about me – From the moment that I walk in the door, it’s all about me. Any reputable business makes certain that you are greeted warmly and are attended to as if you are the only client on site. Whether it’s an all-day experience or a one-hour appointment, I want to feel like the Queen of the Spa. Pamper me, pamper me, pamper me!
2. My cell phone goes on spa mode – My cell phone is never on hiatus normally. Ever! However, once I enter the spa, it is either on silent or even better, it is turned off.
3. Beach time away from the beach – I am a beach bum. I love beach and spa time equally. Now, a spa on the beach is the ultimate experience. (July 2001 in Jamaica, first time…ahh!) Most spas have piped in music and often it’s ocean sounds or another mix of new age, atmospheric and positive instrumentals to soothe the soul. I generally close my eyes and simply imagine myself on white sand, far away from the stress of my day-to-day existence. Relax, relate, release!
4. Uninterrupted Thinking – Once the phone is off, and I have relocated mentally to the beach, I take advantage of the time for uninterrupted thinking. No office “to do” list, no kids or family issues. Simple, peaceful moments enjoying the attention being paid to my body and me. Again, it’s all about me during this experience.
5.  Aromatherapy– Eucalyptus and lavender are my two favorite scents, Most spa facilities inquire about your preferences before your services begin and these oils are either mixed into the products to be used for body treatments, or there are candles or diffusers present that give off the aroma. Inhaling essential oils can help us attain a pleasurable emotional balance. A balanced emotional state in turn can have a therapeutic effect on physical problems. A win-win situation.
6. Power Nap – A good indication that I have enjoyed a body treatment is when I am being awakened at its conclusion. We seldom take the time for a midday nap; however, a positive spa experience will usually ensure that you get one in. Those ZZZ in conjunction with the pampering truly leaves me feeling rejuvenated.
7. Before and After – I always leave in better condition than when I arrived. Unfortunately, I often make time for spa time only after I am on the verge of collapse. Therefore, when I arrive, I am generally not in my best physical (and sometimes emotional) state. However, when I leave, I do so usually feeling like a brand new me. Your “after” self should always be an improvement from your “before” self.

Choosing A Spa

When choosing a spa, there are a number of items that I feel are essential to the overall experience. I rank the Four C’s extremely high on the list: Cleanliness, Customer Service, Cost and Convenience.

Ahhh-Inspiring Body & Wellness Deals

For the most part, all of my spa facility choices were made via personal referrals. If you are new to the spa experience, I highly recommend that you speak with someone whose opinions you trust, to determine which facility would best suit your needs.
There are also online spa review websites that you can utilize to get a gauge on whether a particular business would be to your liking or not.

Feel free to call and speak with staff prior to making an appointment, as this exchange can give you an indication of what to expect should you choose to book with them. A poor first impression over the phone, may be indicative of what awaits you onsite.

I’m a Mompreneur on a very tight budget; therefore, my opportunities to indulge are rare right now. However, thanks to a very generous Mother’s Day present, I recently had the opportunity to spend the day at one of my favorite spas, Healing Hands Spa & Wellness, located in the Van Wyck Brooks historical district of Plainfield New Jersey

What I love about the place is that it is located in a home and not in your traditional commercial space.

The owner, Ingrid Alexander greeted me graciously at the door upon arrival and reconfirmed the services that I had booked. I had the luxury of spending the afternoon there and experienced a facial, an integrated personalized massage, body scrub and a foot reflexology treatment.
At the conclusion of my visit, my seven spot-on reasons why I love spas had ALL been fulfilled..

The staff members performing the services were excellent and first and foremost – IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME!

In fact, I normally never leave the house without some form of makeup, however following my phenomenal facial, I exited without a drop of anything on my freshly scrubbed and glowing face.

I didn’t want to put my shoes back on following the reflexology treatment, and I continued throughout the day to rub my much-needed exfoliated, silky smooth arms.

It was a pleasant afternoon indeed, preparing my body for the autumn chill that has arrived in the northeast. Sadly, this was my first appointment in 2014 (despite my insisting in an earlier post that I would make one then) – Life Happens Then You Blog. I cannot begin to tell you how much I missed the experience over these past months.

Hopefully, 2015 will be fruitful, and I will be able to make these visits much more often. Rest assured; I will continue to drop hints to others about what to give me for holidays, birthdays, etc.

Because of my love of spas and spa products, I’ve even considered learning how to make some of my own. In doing my research, I came across this, ” You Too Can Learn The ‘Secrets’ Professional Spa Owners Use To Create Luscious Bath Bombs, Soothing Creams and Aromatic Fragrance Products.” Sounds worth exploring. Makes for a great gift, too! What do you think?
Click Here!

Learn to Create Spa Products

I can honestly say that I have never had a bad spa experience at any spa that I have visited, which speaks to the power of reliable referrals and research.
Is this luck, or simply my obsession with the concept of being pampered?
I’m not 100% certain why I’ve never had a bad spa experience; however, I am more than willing to continue experiencing them to find out.
I welcome all offers!

Have you indulged in a spa experience before? If so, please share the details, i.e. name of the business, location. Would you give a referral for this business? (Yes or No).